Farewell to Forte

Forte, the name above more hotel entrances than any other for much of the 1990s, has finally been airbrushed from the public face of Granada Compass hotels.

The name had continued in the Forte Posthouse brand, but that three-star hotel chain has now had its name shortened to Posthouse.

Since Granada took over Forte Hotels in 1996, the Forte name has disappeared in stages from all the hotel chains, to allow each to create its own identity.

Posthouse managing director Patrick Dempsey said thatwithin Granada Compass the hotel division would continue to be called the Forte hotel division, but all external marketing and signage would be Le Méridien, Heritage Hotels, Posthouse or Travelodge.

Since Granada and Compass merged their hospitality businesses earlier this year, the group has been under pressure from shareholders to sell some or all of its hotels and concentrate on contract catering.

It is reviewing the future ofits hotel chains and has held exploratory talks with potential buyers, including France's Accor.

See feature on Posthousein next week's Caterer.